How To Pick The Perfect Pair Of Wetsuit Boots

Buying a pair of wetsuit boots

When looking to get a new pair of wetsuit boots there are a few different factors to take into consideration to make sure that you’re getting the ideal pair for you and your wetsuit.

Whether you’re looking for your first ever pair or you’re a seasoned wetsuit bootie wearer it is easy to overlook the different things that make up the perfect pair. Below we are going to give you a list of important factors and the different things you should look at including; the best type for you, how to use them with your perfect wetsuit, how tight they should fit and most importantly, how to take care of them.

What are the different types of wetsuit boots

Whether you’re looking for mens wetsuit boots or womens wetsuit boots it all really comes down to personal preference, this means if possible we would definitely recommend trying out different pairs and deciding which type feels best to you.

However if that’s not enough or you’re looking for some further insight, the different types of booties can be broken into two main categories:

Split Toe Wetsuit Boots

The split is situated around the wearer’s big toe allowing for a much larger freedom of movement making them ideal for use when you need that extra grip and a nice barefoot feel, often making them a favoured choice for competitive use.

See more wetsuit boots here.

Round Toe Wetsuit Boots

Round toe wetsuit boots also often come with a wider array of choice including having the option for your regular wetsuit material (neoprene) or a more stylish latex dipped boot. The added protection from the latex dipped boots bring the advantage of being able to choose a thinner version than your normal boot, helping you to get as close to that barefoot surfing feel as possible.

See more wetsuit boots here.

What is the best thickness for wetsuit boots

With the boots typically coming in three different thicknesses, this choice is a relatively easy one. Making the choice between 3mm, 5mm and 7mm neoprene boots boils down to 2 things;

Temperature:

The temperature of the water you’ll be using your boots is going to be the main factor in deciding which pair is right for you, typically if the water is going to be above 10˚C (50˚F) then 3mm will be more than enough and will give you the best feel overall, however if you’ve got colder feet then nothing is stopping you from purchasing a thicker boot to keep those all important feet warm.

At temperatures lower than 10˚C (50˚F)  we would recommend selecting the thicker 5mm or even 7mm to keep you comfy and allow you to focus on your surfing or kitesurfing and not how cold your feet are.

Your Preference:

Not everyone is the same and although there are rough guides for which thickness is the perfect thickness for each environment, it ultimately comes down to how you feel in them. If you’re someone who suffers when their feet are cold then you may want to select a size up, and on the flip side if you’d prefer to sacrifice a little bit of warmth for extra manoeuvrability then a smaller thickness may be for you!

How to pick the right size of wetsuit boots

Just like in real life various different wetsuit brands use different sizing stencils when creating their boots, meaning that although their sizing typically goes up in increments 1 for UK sizing or 2 for EU sizing their actual size and fit can still differ from brand to brand, meaning it is definitely worth checking the fit of a few different brands before making the jump and purchasing a pair.

It is important to remember that any air gap in your boots will fill with water, so when testing the feel of your boot, of course you want them to be a tight fit but at the same time you will need to find that goldilocks zone as you don’t want boots that are too tight either. The last thing you want is to pick a pair that are too tight and be forced to call it a day early because your boots are uncomfortable.

Boots with 1 or more straps are ideal as they allow you to decide how tight you need your boots to be and will help prevent excess water from getting in at the top and ballooning in your boots.

By having a quick walk around you can usually get a pretty good sense on how the boots are going to fit you and which will have you surfing your best.

The correct way to put on wetsuit boots

If you are wearing your boots incorrectly then it doesn’t matter which boots you pick as they’re likely to be uncomfy and fill with water either way, so take a look at our instructions and make sure that you’re wearing your boots properly.

Step one is to put on your wetsuit, wetsuits can be really tight, if you put your boots on first you’re going to find it extremely difficult getting them all the way to through your wetsuit legs.

Once you’ve got your wetsuit on you want to undo and straps or tighteners on your boot and then roll it as far down as you can (just like putting on a sock), this will allow you to get a much better grip on your boots to slide them over your heel without damaging them.

Once you have the boots on, you want to roll the legs of your wetsuit up allowing you to pull your boots up your leg so they can fit under your wetsuit, this will help you prevent your boots from over filling with water, simply roll your wetsuit legs back down over your boots and you’re good to go!

How to properly care for your wetsuit boots

Now you’ve picked the perfect pair of boots you want to keep them that way, if you don’t use your boots properly you can ruin that perfect feel and you’ll find yourself quickly having to search for a replacement pair. So here is our advice on caring for your boots properly.

Taking Your Boot Off

When removing your boots, as tempting as it may be you need to avoid yanking at them. Just like putting them on the best way to remove them is to roll down the top a little bit allowing you to slip both of your thumbs behind either side of your heel and use them to peel the boot over your foot and off.

How to dry wetsuit boots

Properly drying your boots is essential, luckily it is also nice and easy to do, the first thing which may seem obvious is to hang them upside down allowing the water to drip down and out of the shoe. The second thing which can really speed up the drying of your boots is to place something inside them which will hold them open and allow air to circulate throughout the boot drying them quicker and helping to prevent that damp smell.

Washing wetsuit booties

If your boots are starting to smell or look a little worse for wear a nice quick wash can make a world of difference. Grab a light detergent such as wetsuit shampoo or even baby shampoo, rinse them inside and out (you can use a light bristled brush if needed) then let them air out like we have mentioned above.

As a little added bonus you can give your boots a quick wash/flush with cold fresh water after each use which should help keep those nasty smells away.

Hopefully this guide has helped you in your journey to purchasing the perfect pair of wetsuit boots, however if you’re still unsure you can take a look at our carefully selected range of wetsuit boots to help you make the right choice.